Skin injury response to near-infrared (NIR) laser radiation between the minimum visible lesion threshold and ablation onset is not well understood. This study utilizes a 1070-nm diode-pumped Yb-fiber laser to explore the response of excised porcine skin to high-energy exposures in the suprathreshold injury region without inducing ablation. Concurrent high-speed videography is employed to determine a dichotomous response for three progressive damage categories: observable surface distortion, surface bubble formation due to contained intracutaneous water vaporization, and surface bubble rupture during exposure...

The purpose of this study was to examine the protective effects of intracellular homogeneous melanin produced by Lachnum YM156 (LIM) against ultraviolet B (UVB) induced damage in mice. The possible structural formula of the LIM was concluded based on elemental analysis, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS). The LIM was modified by arginine to improve its water solubility and biological activities...

The aim of the present study was to enhance the skin delivery of metformin by making solid lipid nanoparticles containing metformin using the ultra-sonication method. To achieve the optimum skin delivery for metformin, the effects of the ratio of two surfactants (Tween:Span) on nanoparticles properties and their performance were investigated. Photon correlation spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Powder X-ray Diffractometer (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the solid state of metformin in solid lipid nanoparticles...

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis increases because life expectancy continues to rise with an active patient population. Hence, the concept of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has regained popularity as a treatment option for unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency is widely considered as a contraindication for UKA, however, there are conflicting reports. If otherwise indicated, some surgeons consider UKA for ACL-deficient patients using a modified surgical technique, with a reduction of posterior tibial slope...

In recent decades, biologists have sought to tag animals with various sensors to study aspects of their behavior otherwise inaccessible from controlled laboratory experiments. Despite this, chemical information, both environmental and physiological, remains challenging to collect despite its tremendous potential to elucidate a wide range of animal behaviors. In this work, we explore the design, feasibility, and data collection constraints of implantable, near-infrared fluorescent nanosensors based on DNA-wrapped single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) embedded within a biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel...

BACKGROUND: Early accurate detection of all skin cancer types is essential to guide appropriate management and to improve morbidity and survival. Melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are high-risk skin cancers, which have the potential to metastasise and ultimately lead to death, whereas basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is usually localised, with potential to infiltrate and damage surrounding tissue. Anxiety around missing early cases needs to be balanced against inappropriate referral and unnecessary excision of benign lesions...

Detection of lameness early in cows is important from the animal welfare point of view and for reducing economic losses. Currently, many studies are being conducted for assessment of hoof health status by measuring the surface temperature of skin in cattle and other animal species in different parts of the world. Infrared Thermography (IRT) is able to detect lesions of hooves associated with lameness by measuring the changes in coronary band and hoof skin surface temperature. The surface temperature of a lame limb will be increased when the hoof has lesion(s)...

We developed a composite of graphene and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) to build dissolving microneedles for potential transdermal drug delivery and photothermal therapy. The results showed that each microneedle array comprised 100 (10×10) pyramidal needles with a tip-to-tip distance of 500 μ m and height of 550 μ m. The graphene incorporation reinforced the mechanical strength of the microneedles and facilitated their insertion into the skin. Importantly, the graphene/PAA microneedles exhibited good photothermal effects under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation and rapid drug delivery behavior due to the good water solubility of the PAA matrix...

This study aimed to assess the influence of WBV exercise on muscles by means of infrared thermography and on resistive index (RI) of the femoral artery. The hypothesis was that WBV exercise protocol will induce increase of the muscle activity detected through skin surface temperature change and decreased of RI with WBV exercise. Ten adult healthy medium dogs, were submitted to WBV session. Thermographic images were taken from regions of biceps femoris and vastus lateralis muscles. Triplex Doppler was used to assess RI of the femoral artery...

Introduction: Acne vulgaris is a common skin disorder with a significant impact on patients' quality of life. There is currently no treatment designated to treat acne lesions and scars concurrently. However, mid-infrared lasers may promote neocollagenesis within atrophic scars, while exerting a beneficial effect on acne lesions. Objectives: To determine the safety and efficacy of an integrated cooling-vacuum-assisted non-fractional 1540-nm Erbium:Glass laser for the treatment of acne lesions and scars. Patients and Methods: Twenty-two patients (8 male, 14 female) with mild-to-moderate acne and moderate-to-severe acne scars were included...

Pulsed dye laser irradiation in the wavelength range of 585 to 600 nm is currently the gold standard for treatment of port-wine stains (PWSs). However, this treatment method is often ineffective for deeply seated blood vessels and in individuals with moderate to heavy pigmentation. Use of optical particles doped with the FDA-approved near-infrared (NIR) absorber, indocyanine green (ICG), can potentially provide an effective method to overcome these limitations. Herein, we theoretically investigate the effectiveness of particles derived from erythrocytes, which contain ICG, in mediating photothermal destruction of PWS blood vessels...

BACKGROUND: Spinal hypotension causes decreased regional cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO2 ) in women undergoing cesarean delivery. In this study we aimed to measure the change in ScO2 using near infrared spectroscopy in women receiving a prophylactic phenylephrine infusion during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational cohort study. Fifty-three women had ScO2 measurements at the following time points: preoperatively, in the supine position with 30° of left lateral tilt; one and five minutes after spinal anesthesia; at the time of skin incision; immediately after delivery; one minute after commencing the oxytocin infusion; at completion of surgery, and one hour after surgery...

Massage may be an important method for increasing endogenous oxytocin concentrations and of potential therapeutic benefit in disorders with social dysfunction such as autism where basal oxytocin levels are typically reduced. Here we investigated oxytocin release and associated neural responses using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during hand- or machine-administered massage. 40 adult male subjects received 10 min of light foot massage either by hand or machine in a counterbalanced order and then rated pleasure, intensity, arousal and how much they would pay for the massage...

In this study, novel polysaccharides extracted from cuttlefish skin (CSP) and muscle (CMP), by precipitation with cetylpyridinium, were characterized and their antioxidant and antibacterial activities were investigated. CMP showed the highest amounts of sulfated groups (6.6%), uronic acids (9.2%) and proteins (3.7%). Infrared spectroscopic analysis indicated the presence of sulfonyl (OSO) and acetyl (CH3 CO- ) groups for both CSP and CMP. In addition, CSP showed the presence of glucuronic acid (GlcA) and galacturonic acid (GalA) as major components, where CMP showed highest amount of GalA in its monosaccharide composition...

Purpose: Red chili peppers have been highly valued in gastronomy and traditional medicine since ancient times; it seems that it is not just an ingredient for food but also a good remedy for various medical conditions such as increased blood pressure and high levels of serum triglycerides and cholesterol, myocardial infarction, arthritis, and migraines. The objective of this study is the characterization of a new carrier used for encapsulated extract. Methods: Chili pepper extract was obtained and was physically entrapped inside polyurethane microparticles in order to diminish the irritative potential of this extract...

[Purpose] The current study aimed to investigate the reliability of infrared thermography as a method of determining foot skin temperature, and to determine the relationship between foot skin temperature and blood flow in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. [Participants and Methods] Eighty-five patients were recruited and their foot skin temperature and the ankle brachial index (ABI) were measured using infrared thermography and an automated oscillometry, respectively. A correlation between foot skin temperature and blood flow was performed...

Bilayered skin sheets were fabricated with coaxial hydro-nanofibrils for three-dimensional (3D) cultivation in a biomimetic environment. Polycaprolactone (PCL) was electrospun and hydrolyzed to release fragmented nanofibrils (NF) in an alkaline condition. Methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) was adsorbed and photo-tethered on the surface of the fibrils to prepare coaxial NF composed of hydrophilic shells and hydrophobic cores. GelMA layers on the NF were characterized by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis...

The detection of lymph node metastasis is of great importance for therapy planning and prognosis of cancers, but remains challenging in the clinic. In the current study, we report a tumor-specific imaging probe constructed with NaGdF4:Yb,Tm,Ca@NaLuF4 core@shell upconversion nanoparticles showing distinctive near infrared emission. The following studies revealed that the characteristic Tm dopant emission at 804 nm showed a penetration depth up to 7.7 mm through multi-layered mice skin tissues, substantially greater than emissions at 655 nm and 541 nm typically from the widely used Er dopant, which is apparently favorable for sensitive tumor diagnosis...

Acne vulgaris, generally resulted from overgrowth of Propionibacterium acnes ( P. acnes ), is one of the most difficult-to-treat facial dermatoses and more than 90% of adolescents experienced the disease worldwide. Because the innate non-lymphoid immune system cannot effectively eliminate excessive P. acnes from the skin surface, so far the therapy of acne vulgaris is still mainly dependent on antibiotic treatment. However, long-term or overdose of antibiotics may initiate microbial drug resistance and/or generate unexpected side effects that seriously hamper the use of antibiotics in the clinic...